Compressor-lubricating means



Nov. 23 1926.

W. RAYMOND COMPRES SOR LUBRICATING MEANS Filed Jan. 5, 1926 Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES ra se: PATENT lorries.

warm Harmonia, or E-AS'ION, rEnivsYLvAivia,nssrenon T0 rnn'nsvnvama we? & oolvrrnnsson COMPANY, or EAsron. 'rnnrisYLvANiA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPRESSOR-LUBRICATING MEANS.

Application filed January This invention relates to compressors and in particular to a means for lubricating the main bearings of a two cylinder compressor of the opposed type.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compressor of the opposed cylinder type with a check valve positioned in the crank case to allow air to pass outwardly past the valve but not in the opposite directions so that the pressure within the crank case is prevented from rising any material amount above the atmospheric.

Another object of the invention is to surround the check valve with a battle member to entrap any oil within the crank case and prevent it passing out through the check valve with the air.

A still further object of the invention is to provide conduits from the lower portions of the casing for the check valve to the outer portions of the main bearings for the crank shaft of the compressor.

In two cylinder compressors of the opposed type, the pistons are connected to the crank shaft by two oppositely disposed cranks thereon so that the two pistons move inwardly and outwardly simultaneously. As a result, the pressure within the crank case is alternately raised and lowered. Also due to unavoidable leakage of the air being compressed past the pistons, the pressure is slightly raised so that itis constantly above the pressure of the atmosphere. The oil therefore within the crank case is constantly forced outwardly from the crank case through the crank shaft or main bearings where it is thrown off. It is to avoid this annoyance and loss due to the oil being thrown from the ends of the shafts that the present means have been devised to maintain the average pressure within the crank case at slightly below atmosphere and to provide a means for lubricating the crank shaft bearings.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, my invention consists in the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown my invention embodied in a portable compressor unit, but it will be understood that the drawing is not to be 5,-1928. Serial No. 79,341.

construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of a compressor provided with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the compressorshown in Fig. 1, and a Fig. 8 is an elevation in section of the check valves forming a part of the present invention.

In the above mentioned drawing, I have shown but one embodiment of the invention 1 which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the apended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and in its broadest aspect, my in vention comprises the following principal parts; first, a compressor having an enclosed crank case and trunk pistons; second, a check valve allowing pressure to be exhausted from the crank case but preventing the admission of air thereto past said valve; third, a baffle member surrounding the check valve; and fourth, conduits leading from the casing for said check valve 'to the crank shaft bearings.

Referring more in particular to the figures of the drawing I provide a compressor 10 having a base 1.1 supporting the central or crank case portions 12. On opposite sides of this crankcase 12 are cylinders 13 arranged as shown in opposed relation to each other. Within the cylinders 13 are pistons 14 of trunk form connected by rods 15 to cranks 16 on a crank shaft 17 As will be seen in Fig. 1, the crank shaft 17 has two cranks 16 disposed at 180 to each other.

On the side faces of the crank case portion 12 of the compressor 10 or bearings 18 within which the crank shaft 17 is rotatable. The driving means for the compressor 10 (not shown) may be connected directly to this shaft 17 Rotation of this shaft 17 will therefore cause the pistons 14 to move simultaneously inwardly and outwardly to compress the air in the usual manner.

Mounted on the crank case portion 12 is a casing 19 within which operates a check valve 20. By reference to Fig. 3 the position and operation of this valve 20 will be clear- 1y understood. Any pressure above atmosphere within the crank case 12 is released by air passing out of the crank case 12 through this valve 20. However, when a reduced pressure exists within the crank case 12, no air is permitted to enter for the reason that the check valve 20 closes against its seat.

Surrounding the valve 20 is a baffle preferably as shown depending in the form of a flange 21 from a cover plate 22. This cover plate 22 is provided with openings through which the. air from the crank casing 12 may be exhausted. By means of this baffle 21, air passing from the crank case 12 past the check valve 20 is forced at high velocity around the lowermost edge of the baflle so that the oil mixed with the air is separated therefrom and allowed to fall to the bottom of the casing 19.

Extending from this portion of the. casing 19 are conduits 23 leading to the bearings 18 for the crank shaft 17. Preferably, and as shown, a conduit 23 is connected from each side of the casing 19 and extends to one of the bearings 18. 'By means of these conduits 28, the oil draining down within the casing 19 is led to the main bearings 18 and thus keeps them supplied with sulficient lubricant. As the pressure within the crank case varies from below up to atmospheric, the average pressure is slightly less than atmospheric and there is no tendency for the oil in these bearings 18 being forced from the shaft. On the other hand, this reduced pressure tends to keep the oil within the bearings 18 and forces it toward the crank case.

The check valve 20 is shown in Fig. 3 as a plate valve or ring but it will be obvious that a valve of any desired type may be employed which will operate with a minimum of pressure difference.

I claim:

1. A compressor comprising in combination, a crank case of the enclosed type, a

cylinder hereon, a trunk piston within said cylinder, a check valve in the upper portion of sa1d crank case adapted to prevent an entering said crank case but permitting air to pass outwardly therethrough, oil collecting means surrounding said check valve, and means permitting oil to drain from said collecting means to the main bearing of said compressor.

2. A compressor comprising in combination, a crank case of the enclosed type, a cylinder thereon, a trunk piston within said cylinder, a check valve in the upper portion of said crank case, a battle adjacent said check valve, whereby air passing through said check valve will be separated from oil mixed therewith, and means permitting oil to drain from said battles to the main bearings of said compressor.

3. A compressor comprising'in combination, a crank case of the enclosed type, a cylinder thereon, a trunk piston within said cylinder, a crank shaft having bearings on said crank case, a check valve in the upper portion of said crank case, and oil conduits extending downward from adjacent said check valve to said bearings whereby oil may drain from adjacent said check valve to said bearings.

1. A compressor comprising in combination, a crank case of the enclosed type, a crank shaft extending therethrough, a cylinder thereon, a trunk piston within said cylinder, a check valve in the upper portion of said crank case adapted to permit air to pass out of said crank case but not enter said crank case therethrough, a casing for said check valve, a baffle adjacent said check valve, and conduits connectingsaid casing and extending downward to the bearings for said crank shaft whereby oil may drain fror. said casing to said bearings.

In testimony whereof, I hereto affix my signature.

WAR-D RA YMOND. 

